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Since April 2009, there have been 38 serious sexual assaults, with 13 in 2011/12.

There have also been 14 serious violent crimes. More than 13,000 live in Blackbird and Greater Leys.

Sgt Axe said: “That is a number which is very concerning and it is something we will look at.

“One thing I would say is that the number of 13 last year should be put into perspective with the number of people living here and I would want to assure people they are not in any danger on the
streets from this.”

Blackbird Leys Parish Council chairman Gordon Roper said: “The estate has changed over the years and a lot of that is thanks to the residents themselves, reporting crime.

“And fair play to the police doing a really sterling job, especially the PCSOs who patrol the estate and talk to residents.

“There is crime here but it doesn’t seem to be any different to what is going on in other towns and estates.”

Comments (5)

I think this may be misleading. It doesn't man crime has dropped, just that there's less recorded crime. The reality could be very different, it could be that crime has actually risen!

For example: Cycling on a footpath alongside a public highway is a crime but very few of these crimes is reported. So is running a red light. It could also indicate that the police actually aren't doing so well because when the police fail to deal with crime people tend to stop reporting it because it's "pointless".

I think this may be misleading. It doesn't man crime has dropped, just that there's less recorded crime. The reality could be very different, it could be that crime has actually risen!
For example: Cycling on a footpath alongside a public highway is a crime but very few of these crimes is reported. So is running a red light. It could also indicate that the police actually aren't doing so well because when the police fail to deal with crime people tend to stop reporting it because it's "pointless".Geoff Roberts

"It’s an offence, people know it’s an offence and so they smoke at their own peril because we will catch them." - the law

No, they smoke at their own peril because they smoke at their own peril. There's little or no evidence to suggest it's a wider issue. Unless the police are going to start smashing people's doors down for smoking a joint in their own homes then I don't see what can be done or even should be done.

"Like most estates, there is cannabis smoked here and it seems to be a social thing. But we are targeting it."

So the police are now admitting to targeting social behaviour instead of anti-social behaviour?

"But the drug problem here is nothing compared to what it once was."

How do you actually know that? It may be true but you don't know and you're the last person to know because you're a policeman!

"The estate has changed over the years and a lot of that is thanks to the residents themselves, reporting crime."

but if, for example, half the estate smokes dope, do you think they are reporting themselves to the police?!

"There is crime here but it doesn’t seem to be any different to what is going on in other towns and estates."

Again, this is really an unknown, not unless there's some kind of very clever network and plenty of people to analyse the data.

As far as I can see this entire article is misleading and is full of people making statements which are presented as if they are fact when they are not fact.

"It’s an offence, people know it’s an offence and so they smoke at their own peril because we will catch them." - the law
No, they smoke at their own peril because they smoke at their own peril. There's little or no evidence to suggest it's a wider issue. Unless the police are going to start smashing people's doors down for smoking a joint in their own homes then I don't see what can be done or even should be done.
"Like most estates, there is cannabis smoked here and it seems to be a social thing. But we are targeting it."
So the police are now admitting to targeting social behaviour instead of anti-social behaviour?
"But the drug problem here is nothing compared to what it once was."
How do you actually know that? It may be true but you don't know and you're the last person to know because you're a policeman!
"The estate has changed over the years and a lot of that is thanks to the residents themselves, reporting crime."
but if, for example, half the estate smokes dope, do you think they are reporting themselves to the police?!
"There is crime here but it doesn’t seem to be any different to what is going on in other towns and estates."
Again, this is really an unknown, not unless there's some kind of very clever network and plenty of people to analyse the data.
As far as I can see this entire article is misleading and is full of people making statements which are presented as if they are fact when they are not fact.Geoff Roberts

Our police do a great job, has to be said. Anyone with any concerns better hope THE GREYHOUND STADIUM stays as it is or that'll be another 300 odd households the police have to deal with. ANDREW SMITH MP where are you these days by the way ?!

Our police do a great job, has to be said. Anyone with any concerns better hope THE GREYHOUND STADIUM stays as it is or that'll be another 300 odd households the police have to deal with. ANDREW SMITH MP where are you these days by the way ?!father dowling

I think the phrase is 'dumbing down' by TVP and the Chair of Blackbird Leys Parish Council, and follows-on a similar response by Chief Inspector Paine. It is all very selective, where a '20% reduction' in one type of crime may only represent one or two crimes having been committed. Nor would TVP (Pice and PCSOs) and City Council (Park Rangers and Community Response Teams) be able to justify the levels of funding, manpower and resources used on Blackbird Leys, without due cause or necessity. However, Blackbird and Greater Leys represent two very large communities where the incidence of crime (of all types and degree) will arguably be greater than smaller communities in Oxford - Blackbird Leys may boast a 'parish council' but with over 12,000 people, it's hardly your typical rural Oxfordshire hamlet .....

I think the phrase is 'dumbing down' by TVP and the Chair of Blackbird Leys Parish Council, and follows-on a similar response by Chief Inspector Paine. It is all very selective, where a '20% reduction' in one type of crime may only represent one or two crimes having been committed. Nor would TVP (Pice and PCSOs) and City Council (Park Rangers and Community Response Teams) be able to justify the levels of funding, manpower and resources used on Blackbird Leys, without due cause or necessity. However, Blackbird and Greater Leys represent two very large communities where the incidence of crime (of all types and degree) will arguably be greater than smaller communities in Oxford - Blackbird Leys may boast a 'parish council' but with over 12,000 people, it's hardly your typical rural Oxfordshire hamlet .....Myron Blatz